Tidewater machine



June 19, 1928. 1,674,067

P. SCHMITZ TIDEWATER MACHINE Filed Jan. 2, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR PETER SCI/IY/TZ BY M/{ZMM ATTORNEYS r June 19, 1928. 1,674,067

P. SCHMITZ TIDEWATER MACHINE Filed Jan. 2, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR P5751? 50/4/71 TZ ATTORNEYS June 19, 1928. 1,674,067

P. SCHMITZ- TIDEWATER MACHINE Filed Jan. 2, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR PE TER Sell/-71 TZ ATTORNEYS June 19, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER SCHMITZ, F LYNBRO OK, NEW YORK.

TIDEWATER MACHINE.

Application filed January 2, 1926. Serial No. 78,738.

- This application is in part a continuation of application Serial No. 61,000 filed October 7 1925.

My present invention has for its object to provide a device for obtaining power from the sea and nearby water which has a rising and falling motion, such as is due to the tides, that is the flood tide as well as the ebb-tide which succeed each other every six hours. For this purpose, I provide floats which move up and down with the water, and combine them with mechanism amplifying their motion and with means for transmitting such amplified motion to any machinery or appliance which it may be desired to operate.

IVithout desiring to restrict myself to the particular details illustrated, I will now describe a satisfactory and preferred embodiment of my'invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine; Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 with parts omitted; Figs. 5 and 6 are vertical sections on lines 5-5 and 60 respectively of Fig. 3; and Fig. 7 is a detail of clutch mechanism.

The specific embodiment illustrated comprises a suitable frame whose lower portion is submerged in the water the motion of which is to beutilized. The frame is shown provided with upwardly converging inclined guideways for members located at the ends of floats 16. The guideways are formed by stationary frame members 17 and movable frame members 18 approximately parallel to the members 17. I prefer to make the members 15 in the nature of toothed wheels or pinions, and the members 17, 18 as racks adapted to mesh with said pinions. The latter are preferably mounted loosely on the shafts 19 of the floats 16. Each member 18 is movable toward and from the companion member 17, for instance by pivoting the movable member 18 at 20. WVhen the members 18 are moved away from the members 1'7 of the same pair, the pinions 15 and floats 16 are free to move up and down in the converging.

guideways; normally, the members 18 are in a position allowing the floats to move freely, as indicated inFig. 1, the wheels 15 then being out of engagement with the racks 18, but the upthrust orbuoyancy of the floats keeps the wheels 15 in mesh with the racks 17.

WVhen it is desired to lock the floats against rising or falling movement, the racks 18 are moved toward the companion racks 17, so that the wheels 15 will mesh with both racks ofthe same pair, the clamping and mesh ing action holding the floats in the position they happen to occupy at the time. The purposeof thus locking the floats will be explained hereinafter. As an example of a mechanism suitable for moving the racks 18, I have shown toggle links 21 pivoted to each other at 22, the other ends of these links being connected pivotally at 23 with the upper ends of the movable members or racks 18 at the same end of the machine. -With the pivot 22 is also connected the upper end of an actuating link 24 the lower end of which is pivotally connected at 25 with a lever 26 suitably fulcrumed, for instance on two axially aligning pivot pins 23. To look the lever in position, I may provide a stationary toothedbar 27 adapted for engagement with a spring-pressed latch 28 mounted on said lever. WVhen, as illustrated, the pivot pins 23 extend through parts of the frame, the latter has the corresponding openings preferably shaped as arcuate slots 29 the centers of curvature of which are at 20.

Fig. 4 shows the toggle mechanism 21, 24

duplicated at the ends of the machine, and the lever 26 in this particular construction connects the two toggle mechanisms operatively, thus compelling the members '18 at both ends of the machine to move in unison.

The following mechanism is provided for transmitting the rising or falling motion of the floats 16 to the machinery or other device to be actuated: With the shafts or gudgeons 19 of said floats are connected the lower ends of two pairs of bars 30, located at opposite ends of the machine, the bars of the same pair being crossed and pivotally connected at 31. The upper ends of the bars 30 are in engagement with pivot pins 32. movable horizontally in slots 33 of bars or slides 34 suitably guided for vertical movement. For

instance, the upper portion of the frame may have four vertical channel members or uprights 35 provided with racks 36 in engagement with pinions 37 journaled at 38 on the end portions of the bars 34. With the pivot pins 32 are alsoconnected the iii lower endsof bars crossed and pivotally connected as at 31, and the upper ends of the bars 30 are connected by pivot pins-32, with bars 3% having slots 33' and pinions 37 which engage the racks 36 and are journaled at 38. Preferably additional bars 3i are located above the first bar 34: and connected therewith and with one another in the same manner as described for the first bar 34, the bars 30, 30 with their pivot connections 31, 32, 31, 32, constituting a system of lazy-tongs. This'systcm may reach to a height of 100 to 150 feet for instance, if the rising of the tide reaches the eight foot mark; fewer additional bars are needed than in other parts of the world where the tide may r ach'a height of six feet or less. lVhile the floats lti will move only slowly in response to the rise of the tide or fall of the ebb-tide, the uppermost bars 34 will move at' a much higher rate of speed. This is due to the fact that owing to the arrangement of companion frame members or guides'lT at an angle to each other, the floatslG during their upward or downward in ovei'nent will also move toward or from each other respectively. Thus, as'the floats rise, the angle between the two bars 30 will become smaller, and the two (10I11]')t1lll()n pivot pins 92 will move toward each other. This will give the bar 3-- an upward movemeiit which is slightly greater than the vertical movement of the lloats, and'will give the lowermost bar 3%, in addition to a moven'ient equal to the rise of the floats, an extra upward movement equal to twice the ektra upwardmovement of the bar 3%; This increase or nntltiplicatiou of the upward movement is repeated for each additional bar 34-, each' of them moving faster than the next ba'r below. A'relatively considerable velocity is thus given to the uppermost bar 341'.

By trusses 39" or other suitable connections the uppermost bars 34 of the two lazy-tong :ystelns are secured to a platform -10 movable along the uprights It willbe understood that during a period of six hours, as'tlie tide rises, the platform will mbve upward, and during the next periodbf six'hours corrcspomling to the ebb-tide. the platform will'niove. down-- ward. In this platform are. journalcd to revolve about vertical axestwhile sharing the up and down n'ioi 'ement' of the platform), three toothed wheelsin mesh with each other. the two outer wheels, ll, having axial openings threaded helically to fit the corresponding threads of two stationary (non-rotatable) vertical bars the ends of which are secured to stationary plates or frame members 4-9. The central wheel. 43, s titted to slide on a vertical shaft ll ]()111- iialed "In suitable frame members 42 and 42'; at the same time, said shaft is compelled to rotate with the wheel t3, for instance, by making the shaft of square cross section, and the opening in the wheel 4-3 of corresponding shape. Twisted stationary cables might be used as equivalents of the helical bars.

It will be readily understood that as the floats 16 move up or down, and at. the same time toward or from each other, the plat form 40 will move up or down with the floats, but to a much greater extent. As the wheels ell move with the platform, they will be rotated, both in the same direction, by their threaded engagement with the hclically formed or twisted fixed bars 42. The rotary motion of the wheels -11 will be transmitted to the central wheel or pinion -13 and through it to the shaft 44. As the wheels 41 are much larger than the pinion l3 (preferably from 20 to 30 times larger), the extent of the movement, already amplified by the lazy-tong system, will receive a further very considerable increase. From the shaft ll power is taken for operating any machine or apparatus in any suitable manner, for instance by meansof a wheel 45 rigidly secured to said shaft and meshing with a pinion 46, to secure another amplification of the resulting movement. The shaft -17 of the pinion l6 may serve as a counter-shaft or main shaft from which power can be taken in any suit.- able manner, as by pulleys and belts. It is true the shafts 44' and 47 will rotate in one direction while the floats are moving upwardly, and in the opposite direction during the downward movement of the floats; yet there are many mechanisms (for instance most :types of pumps) which will operate equally well whether the drive. shaft be rotating in a clockwise direction or in the opposite direction. Still, in cases where the driven mechanism is of such nature as to require to be rotated always in the same direction, any suitable transmission device may be interposed between the shaft 47 and the driven mechanism so as to operate the latter in the same direction notwithstzmdino the reversal of the shaft. The wcll-ltnm'n reversing clutch operated by an attendant at the proper times, that is to say, every six hours, may be employed for this purpose. Fig. 7 shows a collar 48 held to rotate with the shaft 4? but movable lengthwise thereof by means of a lever 49 which has a pin extending into an annular groove of the collar 4:8. A bevel wheel 50 ismountcd on said shaft loosely and has a clutch face adapted to be engaged by a corresponding clutch face of the collar. The latter on its opposite side has another clutch face adapted for driving engagement with a similar face on a bevel wheel 51 rigid on the driven shaft 52 aligning with the shaft 47, but separate therefrom. The two wheels 50, 51 are in mesh with a bevel wheel 53 journaled in a stationary bearing 54. When the collar 48 is clutched to the wheel 51, the shaft 52 will be rotated in the same direction as the shaft 47. By shifting the collar t8 so as to clutch it to the wheel 50, the shaft 52 will be caused to rotate in the opposite direction to the shaft 47.

Should it be necessary to reduce the resistance to the upward motion of the lazytong system and the mechanism carried thereby, I may provide counterweights, for instance such as 55, connected with the plat form 40 or other part at the upper portion of the lazy-tong system, by means of wires or other flexible connections such as 56 running over pulleys 57 journaled on the stationary frame. The lazy-tong system may thus be counterbalanced partly so that it will move more readily. Preferably the counterweights are similar to those which are in use on elevators, and may be guided to slide between two stationary rails 58, so that the wind will not cause the weights 55 to sway.

Normally, the members 18 are in such a position as to be out of engagement with the pinions 15, thus leaving the floats free to rise and fall. It is quite evidently desirable to be able to stop the movement of the floats in the event of an accident to the machinery actuated by such movement, or when it is intended to make repairs, since serious dam age might result if the floats in this case were to continue their movement during the period of the tide or during the period of the ebb-tide. To lock the floats against rising or falling movement, the lever 26 is operated to swing the members 18 into engagement with the pinions 15, the latch 28 then holding the lever 26 in this locking position until the water is again at the same level where it was when the machine was stopped before normal operation is to be resumed. Under normal operating conditions, the inclined members 17 are the only portions acting as guides for the floats 16, the members 18 being inactive. However, these latter members may also temporarily act as guides for the floats in special cases, as in letting the floats down from a position above the floating level.

By providing pinions 15 at each end of the floats 16, the latter are caused to move uniformly at both ends. Similarly, the provision of the pinions 37 and 37 at the ends of the transverse bars 34 and 34 insures a uniform movement of these bars at both ends. The floats should be arranged in such a way that waves will have little or no disturbing effect on the machine while in operation. Only the six hour rise of the tide and the six hour fall of the ebb-tide are intended to operate this machine.

Various modifications may be made Without departing from the nature of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a float arranged to rise continually for six hours during the rising tide and to fall continually for a like period of time during ebb-tide, an operated device, and a vertically expansible and contractible velocity-increasing connection between said float and said device, whereby the tidal move ments of the float are compounded to impart to said device a movement very consid'erably greater than that of the float.

2. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a float arranged to rise continually for six hours during the rising tide and to fall continually for a like period of time during ebb-tide, an operated device arranged to move up and down, and a vertically expansible and contractible velocityincreasing connection between said float and said device for compounding the tidal movements of the float in its direction of move ment, to impart to said device an up and down movement of greater extent thanthe rising and falling movement of the float. I

An apparatus of the character described, comprising a float arranged to rise continually for six hours during the rising tide and to fall continually tor a like period of time during-ebbtide, an operated device,

and a lazytong system connecting said float with said device and expanding and contracting in vertical directions to compound the tidal movements of the float to thereby impart to said device a movement greater than that ol' the float.

a. An apparatus oi the character described, comprising two floats arranged to rise continually for six hours during the rising tide and to fall continually for a like period of time. during ebb-tide, converging guides for causing the distance between said floats to vary as they rise and tall, an operated device, and a connection between said floats and said device, said connection being extended and contracted as the distance between said floats varies.

An apparatus of the character described, comprising two floats arranged to rise continually for six hours during the rising tide and to fall continually for a like period oftime during ebb-tide converging guides for causing the distance between said floats to vary as they rise and tall, an operated device, and lazy-tongs connecting said floats and said device andconstructed to be extended by the movement of the floats toward each other and to be contracted by the movement of the floats from each other.

6. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a float arranged to rise continually for six hours during the rising tide and to fall continually for a like period of time during ebb-tide, a toothed wheel fit) on said float, a guide rack in mesh with said wheel, a locking member to clamp said wheel against the trek, and a device actuated by the movement of the float.

7. An apparatus of the character de' scribed, comprising a float arranged to rise continually for six hours during the rising tide and to fall continually for a like period of time during ebb-tide, a toothed wheel on said float, a guide rack in mesh with said wheel, a clamping and locking rack movable toward and from said guide rack and arranged to engage said wheel on the side opposite to the guide rack, and a device actuated by the movement of the float.

An apparatus of the character described, comprising stationary guide racks located in spaced relation, a float arranged to rise continually for six hours during the rising tide and to fall continually for a like period ol time during ebb-tide adjacent to said racks. toothed wheels located at each end of said float and arranged in mesh with said racks and adapted to travel lengthwise thereof t'or maintaining a uniform movement; ol said float at both of its ends, and a device actuated by the movement of said float.

9. An apparatus oi the character described, comprising a float arranged to rise continually imsix hours during the rising tide and to fall continually tor a like period oil time during ebbtide, an operated device, a vertically expansible and contractible lazytong system Ct)1lt10(3tll]g said float with said device and arranged to compound the tidal movements of said float to impart to said device a movement greater than that of the float, transverse bars connected with said lazy-tong system and vertically movable therewith, and stationary upright guides for said bars.

ill. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a float arranged to rise continually tor six hours during the rising tide-and to tail continually tor a like period of time during ebb-tide. an operated device, a vertically expansible and contractible lazyton-svstem connecting said float with said device and arranged to compound the tidal. movements of said float to impart to said device a movement greater than that of the float, transverse bars connected with said lazy-tong system and vertically movable therewith. rolling members journaled on said bars, and stationary upright guides along which said rolling memb rs are arranged to travel.

11. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a float arranged to rise continually for six hours during the rising tide and to tall continually tor a like period of time during ebb-tide, an operated device, a vertically expansible and contract-ible lazytong system connecting said float with said device and arranged to compound the tidal movements of said float to impart to said device a movement greater than that of the float, transverse bars connected with said lazy-tong system and vertically movable therewith, toothed wheels journaled on said bars, and stationary upright racks along which said wheels are arranged to travel.

12min apparatus of the character described, comprising a fixed bar of helical formation, a float arranged to rise continually for six hours during the rising tide and to fall continually for alike period of time during ebb-tide, a carrier operated by the rise and fall of the float, a wheel journaled on said carrier and arranged to move therewith lengthwise of and in cngagen'lent with said helical bar so as to be rotated thercbv as the carrier moves, and means for transmitting the rotation of said wheel.

13. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a fixed bar of helical formation, a float arranged to rise continually for six hours during the rising tide and to fall continually for a like period (it time during ebb-tide. a carrier o 'ierated by the rise aml tall 01' the float, a wheel journaled on said carrier and arranged to move therewith lengthwise of and in engagement with said fixed bar of helical tormation so as to be rotated thereby asthe carrier moves another wheel mounted on said carrier and operatively related to the in t-meationcd wheel to be rotated thereby, and a shaft held against longitui'linal motion and having a slidlng lit with said second nientioned wheel yet held to rotate therewith, so that as the carrier moves, the said second wheel will slide along said shaft and impart rotation thereto.

14. An apparatus oi the character dc- ,-:cribed,' comprising a float arranged to rise continuallyfor six hours durii'ig the rising tide and to fall continually tor a like period ot'timc during ebb-tide, a. carrier operated by such rise andl'all; two wheels journalcd on said carrier and arranged to move therewith, two fixed bars of helical formation engaging said wheels to rotate them as they are carried lengthwise of said bars by the movemcnt ot the carrier, a third wheel mounted on the carrier in operative relation to both previouslydnentioned wheels to be rotated by them, and means for transmitting the rotation ol said third wheel.

.15. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a float arranged to rise continually for six hours durin c the rising tide and to fall continually for a like period of time during ebb-tide, a carrier operated by such rise and full. two wheels journalcdon said carrier and held to move therewith, two lixed barsor guides of helical Formation engaging said wheels to rotate them they are. carried lengthwise of said bars by the movement of the carrier, a third wheel mounted on the carrier in operative relation to both previously-mentioned wheels to be rotated by them, and a shaft extending parallel. to the path Oil, the carrier and held against longitudinal motion, said shaft being held to turn with said third wheel but permitting the latter to slide lengthwise of the shaft as the carrier moves.

16. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a float arranged to rise continually for six hours during the rising tide and to fall continually for a like period of time during ebb-tide, a shaft, an operative connection between the float and the shaft to rotate the latter in one direction during the fall of the float and in the opposite direction during the rise thereof, a driven shaft, and an operative connection between the two shafts so constructed as to enable said driven shaft to be rotated always in the same direction irrespective of the direction in which the first-mentioned shaft rotates.

17 An apparatus of the character described, comprising a float arranged to rise continually for six hours during the rising tide and to fall continually for a like period of time during ebb-tide, a carrier operated .by such rise and fall, a plurality of gear wheels journalled on vertical axes on said carrier and arranged to move therewith, means whereby said gear wheels are rotated on their axes by the operation of said car rier, a pinion movable about a vertical axis and meshing with at least one of said gear wheels so as to be rotated thereby, and mechanism connected with said pinion and adapted to be operated by the same.

18- An apparatus of the character described, comprising a float arranged to rise continually for six hours during the rising tide and to fall continually for a like period during ebb-tide, stationary guiding means, guide means connected with said float and movable lengthwise oi": said guiding means, with the rise and fall of said float, a device actuated by the movement of the float, and a locking member movable toward the guiding means to clamp the guide means against said guiding means whereby said float is locked against both rising and falling movements.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

PETER sonrnrz. 

